What is a primary reason raptors are hooded?

Hooding raptors primarily serves to prevent them from seeing and becoming startled. Raptors can be easily stressed or frightened by sudden movements or loud noises in their environment. By using a hood, falconers can help the birds remain calm and reduce their anxiety during transport, while waiting for their turn to fly, or when being handled. This practice ensures that the bird's focus remains on the falconer and tasks at hand rather than the surrounding stimuli that could potentially disrupt training or hunting sessions.

The effectiveness of this method is particularly important during training, as a calm bird is more likely to respond positively to learning and various commands. Additionally, it allows falconers to manage their birds more safely and humanely. The other choices do not encapsulate the primary reason for hooding raptors, as they pertain to different aspects of falconry rather than the crucial need for calming the bird.